26th March, 2024
The Department of Homeland Security on Monday raided multiple homes belonging to famous American singer, Sean Diddy Combs, following several lawsuits over accusations including physical abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking.
Several women, including the rapper’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie, have taken him to court, claiming they were sexually assaulted.
Singer Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, accused the music mogul of rape, abuse, and human trafficking during their 10-year relationship.
The lawsuit was, however, settled out of court one day after it was filed.
Two other women who claimed they were sexually abused by the hip-hop mogul also took him to court.
Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, Diddy’s former producer, also filed a lawsuit alleging that the rapper sexually harassed, drugged, and threatened him for over a year.
Following the allegations, the rapper stepped aside from his role as chairman at Revolt, his TV network.
In now-viral footage, helicopters and agents were seen swarming Combs’ Los Angeles mansion.
The heavily armed US federal agents can be seen lining out and detaining the occupants in the building.
Some men — later identified as Combs’ sons Justin and King — were detained and waiting outside the Holmby Hills house in Los Angeles.
Some residents were also interrogated outside the house.
The house, a 17,000-square-foot mansion, is said to be registered under the name of one of Diddy’s daughters.
The property is also linked to Diddy’s Bad Boy Films production company.
The federal agents also searched another property of Diddy located in Miami.
Although there were no specific indications that the raid was connected to the sexual assault allegations filed against Diddy, an agent told the Associated Press that the department “executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners”.
In a statement on Monday, Douglas Wigdor, Cassie’s lawyer, said “we will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law.
“Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct,” Wigdor added.